Suffer the little children

Yet another victim of this year's "Midtaculars," Powertool's "Big Trunk rants and rages:

Among the cynical adages that explain a lot about democratic politics is this one: "Vote for your enemy -- he has no one to sell out to but you." It's an adage that seems to apply more reliably to Republicans than to Democrats. In any event, however, our own Governor Tim Pawlenty is in the process of providing a case study in the merits of the adage.

Though he was reelected last week, he now faces substantial Democratic majorities in both houses of the Minnesota legislature and is apparently seeking ground he can cede to them. Now Governor Pawlenty is advocating the extension of "health care access to up to 90,000 uninsured children as a step toward coverage for all Minnesotans." (I'm relying on the Star Tribune account of Pawlenty's speech; I can't find a copy of it on the Internet.)

Governor Pawlenty didn't propose any particular method for extending coverage, he simply put the ball in play. The Democrats can be counted on to do the rest. Not willing to leave bad enough alone, Govenror Pawlenty also delivered some nanny-state hectoring of pharmaceutical advertising:

Pawlenty said prescription drug ads should be limited or temporarily suspended because they only "create consumer-driven appetites for prescription medicines that do not yield wise decisions."

So much is wrong with this propositon. I recoil from the arrogance of such instruction from public servants who have forgotten their jobs. Sorry, governor, but you aren't the arbiter of the "wise decisions" of a free people.

The Tool finds not only objectionable the governor's abhorence of drug ads that push patients to demand the latest designer prescription from overworked doctors, thus making our insane health care system that much more drained. But he apparently also finds "arrogant" and "cynical" that the Minnesota governor (a rare Republican survivor last week) would want to work with his Democratic-controlled Statehouse on providing health care coverage for 90,000 uninsured children?

Ahem. What is wrong with these people? A millstone comes to mind.

18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
18:8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Go ahead and read the full story from the Star-Tribune. The governor's idea that he's "put into play" sounds like a very reasonable proposition and a very admirable opportunity for real bipartisanship. But then, "power" is the only thing that interests the Powerline types. Now out of it (in large part, they're the first to say, because the GOP failed to heed their sage advice), they only want to scream and throw "things." To rage over the "betrayal" of party members who realize the voters want government to be about solving problems, not advancing rigid ideology.

Ideologies ike, um, keeping children living in poverty away from health insurance, apparently.